Sparowe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Early Origins of the Sparowe family

The surname Sparowe was first found in Norfolk where it is generally believed that the family trace their ancestry to William Sparrow, of West Harling, temp. Edward II. 1 However, some sources claim the name was a nickname as in "one thought to possess some quality of a sparrow, such as a homey, chirpy disposition; dweller at the sign of the sparrow." 2 3 However, we find it difficult to trivialize the surname in this manner.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list more of the listings of the surname with some of the earlier spellings: John Sparuwe in Oxfordshire; Laurence Sparwe in Cambridgeshire; and Hugh Sparewe in Cambridgeshire. Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Rogerus Sparowe; and Adam Sparowe. 4

Early History of the Sparowe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sparowe research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1612, 1615, 1633, 1648, 1660, 1665, 1667, 1668, 1676 and 1685 are included under the topic Early Sparowe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sparowe Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sparrow, Sparrowe, Sparow and others.

Early Notables of the Sparowe family

Notables of the family at this time include Anthony Sparrow (1612-1685), English Anglican priest, Bishop of Norwich (1676-1685) and Bishop of Exeter (1667-1676.) Born at Depden, near Bury St. Edmunds, he was the son of Samuel Sparrow, a man of wealth. "The rectory of Hawkedon in Suffolk was conferred upon Sparrow about 1648, but, after holding it for five weeks, he was ejected for reading the Book of Common Prayer. In 1660 he was reinstated, and was...
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sparowe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sparowe family to Ireland

Some of the Sparowe family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sparowe family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Thomas Sparrow who settled in Virginia in 1636; Judith Sparrow settled in Barbados with her children and servants in 1680; John Sparrow settled in Virginia in 1653.

The Sparowe Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: In solo Deo salus
Motto Translation: Salvation is in God alone.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)